What is a BNC?

A BNC is a program that is able to connect to IRC Servers and stay connected as if it were a normal client such as mIRC. They are usually run on remote servers which are kept online constantly in order to ensure the BNC does not disconnect from the IRC server. The purpose of a BNC is to act as a 'relay' between the IRC network and yourself to keep your connection hidden from the IRC server or if you have problems with firewalls etc. The BNC connects to an IRC network and you connect to the BNC...

SwiftIRC <-> BNC <-> You

When you disconnect from the BNC, it will remain connected to the IRC network making it seem as though you are still online to other users.

How secure is a BNC?

A BNC is only as secure as the person who is running it for you (and subsequently those who have access to the machine the BNC is running off). If you are using a BNC provided by a free BNC service on the network you should note that they have the ability to read all text that you send to the server and text that the server sends to you - regardless of whether you're connected via SSL. This means they can retrieve your services passwords, can read your private messages, and can also take control of your BNC account/nickname if you are logged into an IRC server.

It is strongly advised that if you want to use a BNC that you purchase one from a reputable hosting provider and set it up yourself. The risk that comes with using a BNC service on the network is just too high.

How can I get a BNC?

Purchase a shell account from a reputable hosting provider and install the software yourself (search on the internet for 'bnc shells' and you should find a lot of information about them).

Note: We do NOT endorse other public/private BNCs that are distributed on the SwiftIRC network.

What is a Bvhost

These are virtual host names that are assigned to a BNC User.

Ident@this.is.myhost.net

The above example is of a bvhost. It is completely different from your host address, which you would see if you connect normally to SwiftIRC.

You may be able to choose a bvhost from a list provided by your BNC provider.

Misusing a BNC

If any BNC user is found to be using a BNC to break SwiftIRC's rules, including but not limited to ban evasion, they WILL be dealt with by staff and may well lose their BNC. In the worst case, the user might also end up with their nickname being suspended, or a network ban.

Any BNC provider that knowingly allows a user to use a BNC to break SwiftIRC's rules will also be dealt with by staff accordingly. Providers should not be surprised if they find some, or all, of their hostnames banned from the network. If a user is able to evade network bans through your service then we will have no choice but to block all access from it.

We will ensure the security of our own users regardless of the impact it has on your service. Many providers have a system which automatically removes a person's BNC account if they are killed or glined - it is advisable that other providers follow this procedure as well.

How do I setup a BNC with Swiftkit

This guide will show you how to set up your SwiftKit so you can quick connect to your BNC.

You will need to add a new server to SwiftKit, the simple steps below will demonstrate how to do so.

1. Click start on the SwiftKit IRC.
2. Click options, right under Start.
3. Click connection (this should already be selected).
4. Click add.
5. Fill out the information in the dialogue box that pops up, replacing everything in the picture below,
except the "*Name:" field.
6. Once you have done all of that, click save at the bottom.
7. Click OK.
8. Where it says Select profile, to the right of options, click the drop down bar and select BNC.
9. Click connect.
10. Congratulations! You have set up quick connect for your BNC on SwiftKit!

There are some terms which are loosely entered without sufficient explanation, some of which are shown below in greater depth:

SERVER - This is the BNC server hostname which you connect to, for example: test.server.com
you are told this after the application process. but if for any reason you are unsure, contact
a member of staff who can assist you.
PORT - This is the BNC server port and must be entered correctly, this is also provided after
the application process, for example: port 9600. If for any reason you are unsure of the port
feel free to contact a member of staff.
USER - This is the "ident" (or unique identity) which is used to identify you on the BNC process.
If you are unsure of your USER you could try whois'ing your BNC nickname which will display the
ident@host.
PASS - The password you chose when applying for a BNC. It is important that the USER:PASS is
correct and seperated with a colon [:] otherwise it will not work.

2. Add a new server to mIRC. This is simply for convenience and is not a necessity although its highly recommend you add a new server. Once again, Tools -> Options -> Connect -> Click the + icon to expand the list -> Servers.

BNCSERVER - This is the BNC server hostname which you connect to, for example: test.bncserver.com
you are told this after the application process, but if for any reason you are unsure, contact a
member of staff who can assist you.
PORT - This is the BNC server port and must be entered correctly, this is also provided after the
application process, for example: port 9600. If for any reason you are unsure of the port feel free to
contact a member of staff.
PASS - The password you chose when applying for a BNC.

3. After filling in the required fields as shown in the example above, click "OK" then select the new server you have just added, and then click "Select" and finally, "Connect".

How do I see the commands list for sBNC and psyBNC

If you are logged in into your BNC, simply type /msg –sBNC help (/sbnc help).